Mining-machine.



A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1am.

Patented Aug; 3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. BALL.

. MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAR. 12, I910.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

5 Pig p Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

n snares airman errannLBnrvr BALL, or GLAREIVIONT, new HAMPSHIRE, nssrenon, BY mnsnn ASSIGAL MENTS, T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, n

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Original application filed November 24, 1908, Serial No. 464,320. Divided and this application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No. 548,855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that. I, ALBERT BALL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Mining-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to mining machines, being more particularly intended to provide improved means for feeding and guiding a mining machine-whi e performing the cutting operation. I I

This application is a division of my prior application Serial N 0. 464,320, filed N ovember 24, 1908.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows in plan, partially broken away, a mining machine embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a section in plan showing the two winding drums for the mining machine of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing in detail a locking pin for the drum shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mining machine in Fig. 1 shown on a reduced scale, the forward end of the cutter bar being broken away. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are. diagrams showing the mining machine of Fig. 1 as arranged for the starting out, main cut and loading movement, respectively.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment of my invention there disclosed, I have shown, for the sake of illustrating one concrete form of my invention, a mining machine of the wellknown cutter-chain type having the body or main frame 1 with the cutter bar 2 projecting therefrom and adapted to undercut the wall of the mine with a horizontal kerf as the machine is moved transversely the di rection of cutter bar length or in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1.

The cutter bar, as usual, carries a suitable cutter chain 3 driven from the driving Mitchell No. 656,414.

sprocket wheel 1. The latter is mounted on the driving shaft 5, to which is secured the large driven gear 6 driven bythe pinion 7 on the shaft 8 of the upright electric motor 9 on the frame of the machine. These power-transmission parts are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and their constructional details form 110 essential part of the present invention, but, herein, having ref erence to these as well as to certain other constructional features of the machine, I have, for illustration, shown my invention as applied to a machine of the general construction shown in the prior patent to lVhile for such purpose any suitable construct-ionmay be employed, in the present machine, supporting means are provided upon and with which the machine is adapted to move along the mine and preferably, as in the Mitchell patent referred to, in the form of a bottom member or shoe 10 (Fig. 4) upon which the machine is adapted to slide, if desired, directly upon the bottom or floor of the mine.

In order to hold the cutter chain and thecutter bar in the desired relation against the work as the machine is fed along, guiding means are provided, the same preferably consisting of rope, cable or other flexi ble guiding means kept under tension and so associated with the machine that the cutter bar, as it travels, is held up to the work lengths or portions may consist of two separate lengths each wound upon'and unwound from suitable winding devices.

As seenin Fig. 1 the leading cable 11 on the advancing side of the machine is wound about the winding drum 13 mounted to rotate about the shaft 14:, the said cable, during the lateral feeding movement of the machine, being connected to the latter about a fulcruming guide, which is mounted on substantially upright bearings on the rear or receding side of the machine, but near the wall or cutting end thereof. On the other hand tie rear or trailing cable 12 is connected to the rope winding drum 16, the lat ter mounted by the side of the drum 13 to rotate therewith upon the same shaft 14. The trailing cable 12, after leaving the drum 16 .passes to and about a guide sheave 17 suitably supported near the rear end of the machine, so that the cable, during the operation of the machine, is adapted to leave the same on the receding side and near the outer end thereof, or that end opposite the wall or cutting end. The two cable portions (as represented in Figs. 1 and 6) may therefore be arranged in two substantially parallel lengths and, when under tension, with the cutter bar in position against the work, will serve to hold the cutter bar against the work and in a position which can be adjusted by regulating the cable 12 to swing the machine more or less about the guiding sheave 15 as a fulcrum.

lVhile the two cables 11 and 12 might be employed solely to guide the machine and hold the same in the desired relation to the work, other and independent means being employed positively to feed the machine, herein preferably I employ power-driven means to draw in one of the guide members while paying out the other, thereby to feed the machine at the same time it is guided. To this end both the winding drums 13 and 16 are connected to be driven in unison from the motor 9 so as to draw in one while equally paying out the other cable and to maintain the established tension on the two cables while causing the advance ofthe machine.

In the disclosed form of machine in order to drive the drums the 11)1l'l1l} drivin 7 O D shaft 5 is provided with the driving pinion 18 meshing with the gear 19, the latter being connected to turn the smaller pinion 20 and the intermeshing gear 21, which latter is connected to turn the beveled gear 22. To drive the drum 13 the gear 22 has meshhg therewith the beveled gear 23 fixed to L 1'- driving shaft 24, the latter (see Fig. 2) car rying at its ends the driving pinion 25 mesh ing with an internal gear 26 carried by the inner face of the winding drum 13. In order that the two drums may be driven in unison, they are norn'ially locked together by 'the locking pin 27, slidably mounted in the side walls of the drum 1.6. .The pin, however, may be withdrawn to release the drums so that drum 16 maybe turned at will independently of the drum 13. .To hold the locking pin'in any position in which it may be placed and to prevent its withdrawal from the drum 16, there is provided a detent plunger 28 which is fastened by the spring 29 against the cut away portion 30 of the locking pin 27.

The cable 11, which passes to the advanc ing side of the machine has connection to an anchor or other fixed support 31 (see Fig. 6) at the advancing side of the machine during the completion of the main out. While the free end of the cable 11 might be fixedly se cured to the said handle or other support, herein the same has connection with the support by passing around the guide sheave 32 carried thereby, the free end being then carried back and fixedly secured to the machine itself. The trailing rope or cable 12, which is unwound from the drum 16 passes from the guide sheave 17 to the fixed support 33 (see Fig. 6) at the receding side of the machine. Herein there is diagrammatically represented an adjustable take-up jack of the construction shown in the aforesaid patent to Mitchell, so that the tension on the trailing rope or cable may be adjusted at will, and the position of the machine regulated by taking in or letting out such cable.

. With reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the machine is held to the work by the opposing pulls of the two cables, one exerted near the wall end and the other near the opposite end of the machine! The sheave 15, therefore, forms a fulcrum about which the machine may be swung to change its'angular inclination by taking up or lettin out the cable as described. The free entl of the trailing cable, if desired, may be secured to the take up jack 33, but herein the same is shown as passing around the guide sheave 34 attached .to the take-up jack, and thence back to the machine to.

which'the free cable end is secured. Herein I have shown means whereby the leading able 11 may be adjusted during the operation of the machine, as well as that of the trailing cable, the same herein comprising a drum 35 (Fig. 1) to which the free end of the cable 11 is secured, the drum being provided with a ratchet wheel 36 adapted to be turned by the ratchet lever 37 and pawl 38 to take up or let out the cable, a suitable locking dog or detent 39 being also employed to hold the drum against unwinding movement. The trailing cable may be adjusted wholly at the take-up jack or ad justment may be provided in whole or in part at the machine itself. To effect the latter. the free cable end is preferably passed to a take-up drum 40, the latter being secured to the ratchet wheel 41, which is secured against unwinding movement by the detent 42. but may be adjustably turned by means of the ratchet lever 43 and pawl 44.

- connected thereto of the cable pan under its own power.

up jack 33; also that the tension on the cable 11 leading to the advancing side of the machine may be regulated by adjusting the takeup drum 35. The guide sheave 17 over Wl11 3l1 the trailing cable passes in unwindlng from the drum 16 is carried by the swing arm 45 mounted on the frame and havin the brace rod 46. This location of the guide sheave 17 carries the trailing rope well toward the outer end of .the machine and increases the leverage effective in holding the machine to its work.

Referring to Fig. 6, the operation of the machine in effecting the lateral or main out will be clear. As the machine cuts it is advanced by the winding up of the cable 11. The cable 12, which extends rearwardly to the tak up jack 33, is paid out to an equal extent so that the same cable tension is constantly maintained. The machine, therefore, as it travels, is held in and against the work, the cutters acting to draw the machine in and the trailing cable tending to swing the cutter bar forward about the fulcruming guide sheave l5 andv to hold the cutters against the coal.

In Fig. 5, I have shown the arrangement 11 for effecting the starting or sumping out. For this operation the cable portion 11 is passed about the guide sheave, thence across the machine about the removable guide sheave 4:7 (see Fig. l) and thence forwardly parallel with the cutter bar to the fixed support as, to which it is fastened. With the cable arranged in this fashion, the machine will act to draw itself into the coal, suitable guiding means being provided,

such as the starting pan 49.

In Fig. 7 there is shown the cable arrangement for moving the machine rearwardly, as for the purpose truck or upon the starting pan 49. In this case the cable 11 passes about the guide sheave 1'5, thence across the machine about the front of the removable sheave 47, thence rearwardly about the sheave 50, and the sheave 51, and thence back to a point Where it is fixed, such as the rear wall of the starting pan. lVith this cable arrangement, the machine will be drawn back on its starting In order to disconnect either or both winding drums from the driving motor and the transmission gearing so that the cables may be quickly wound or unwound when the out has been completed, or for any other purpose, means are preferably provided for disconnecting the drums from the driving motor at will. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, but herein the drum shaft 14 is eccentrically mounted in the brackets 52, and is adapted to be turned by the hand lever 53 to draw the internal gear 26 on 13 into-or out of mesh with its the drum as may be (issued. By

driving pinion 25,

of loading it upon aparts, or the application herein made of the invention, or the particular form of mining machine shown, but that extensive deviations may be made in respect to these features from the showing made without de parting from the spirit of the invention.

Claims:

1. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite, end thereof, and a pair of power driven members engaging said guiding portions, said members be ing mounted on the same shaft and provided with means for connecting and disconnecting them with and from each other and the source of driving power.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having a pair. of flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machineand the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting side of the machine and the other near the opposite end thereof, and a fulcruming guide for the former portion located on the inner or cutting end of the machine and on the receding side thereof.

n a mining machine the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means, two guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter guiding portion extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, winding means on the machine and means on the machine for adjusting thelatter guiding portion to regulate the position of'the machine.

I. In a mining machine, the con'ibination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means comprising a pair of flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed. support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the 11121Cl11118, 0118 relatively near the wall or cut- 4 ting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter portion extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and means on the machine for adjusting the latter guiding portion to regulate the position of the machine.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively nearthe wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and means on the fixed support for adjust ing the latter guiding portion to regulate the position of the machine. I

(5. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support,-one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the Wall/or. cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and winding means to which the free end of the latter guiding portion is fixedly secured.

7. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the .machine and the other 011 the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the first named guiding por; tion leading to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and power-driven winding means to which the free end of said 50 guiding member is fixedly secured.

8. In a mining machine, the combinat on with cutting mechanlsm, of flexible guiding means having two portions connected each I to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, and connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cut-- ting end and the other relatively near the opposite end thereof, the first-named guiding portion leading to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and means for adjustabl "tahing in or letting out said first-named guiding portion.

9. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible means the machine and the other having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine,

one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other nearer the opposite end thereof, one of said guiding portions extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and winding means to which the free end of the latter guiding portion is fixedly secured.

' adjustably taking in or letting out one of said guiding portions relatively to the other to regulate the position of the machine.

11. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism of flexible guiding means having two guiding portions each connected to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, one of said guiding portions extending from the machine to the-fixed support and thence back to the machine, and the other guiding portion being also connected to the machine, and an adjustable take-up device on the machine to which said last-named guiding portion is connected.

12. In a mining machine the combination with cutting mechanism of flexible guiding means presenting a pair of flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support,

one on the advancing side of the machine,

the other on the receding side thereof, said portions engaging'.the machine, l one relatively near to the wall or cutting side of near the opposite end thereof, a winding drum for the other end of each. of said portions, said drums being coaxially disposed and means for clutching one drum to the other.

13. In amining-machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having a p ir of flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other 011 the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting side of the machine and the other near the opposite end thereof, a fulcruming guide for the former portionlocated on the inner or cutting end of the machine and on I on. the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting I side of the machine and-the other near the opposite end thereof, a fulcruming guide for, the former portion located on the inner or cutting and of the machine and on the receding side thereof, and means to operate said guiding means.

15. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having a pair of flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting side of the machine, and the other near the opposite end thereof, a fulcruming guide for the former portion located on the inner or cutting endpf the machine and on the receding side thereof, and Winding means for said guiding means.

16. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means, two guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machineand the other on the receding side thereof, said portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other near the'opposite end thereof, the latter guiding portion extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, means for adjusting the latter guiding portion to regulate the position of the machine, and n to operate said guiding means.

17. In a mining machine the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means, two guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the reced ing side thereof, said portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the'other near the opposite end thereof, the latter guiding portion extending to the fixed support and thence back to to machine, means for adjusting the latter guiding portion to regu late the position of the machine, and winding means for said guiding means.

18. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding pair of flexible-guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof,

said guiding portions being connected to the machine; one relatively near the Wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter portion extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, means on the machine for adjusting the latter guiding portion to regulate the position of the machine, and means to operate said guiding means.

19. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the Wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, means on the fixed support for adjusting the latter guiding portion to regulate the position of the machine, and means to control said guiding means.

20. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing ide of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one

relatively near the Wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the latter extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, Winding means to which the free end. of the latter guiding portion is secured, andmeans to draw inthe guiding means on the advancing side of the machine.

21. In a mining machine, thecombination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding ide thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the Wall or cutting end and the other near the opposite end thereof, the first named guiding portion leading to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, power-driven winding means to which one free end of said guiding 'member is secured, and manually operable mechanism to control the guiding means on the receding side of the machine.

22. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible guiding means having two portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, and connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other relatively near the opposite end thereof, the first-named guiding portion leading to the fixed support and thence back: to the machine, means for ad justably taking in or letting out said firstnamed guiding portion, and means to utilize said guiding means to impart a feeding movement to the machine.

23. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism, of flexible means having two flexible guiding portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one relatively near the wall or cutting end and the other nearer the opposite end thereof,

,one of said guiding portions extending to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, winding means to which one free end of the latter guiding portion is secured, and independently operable mechanism to control the other guiding portion.

24. In a mining machine,the combination, with cutting mechanism, of flexible means havin two flexible guiding portions connectetfeach to a fixedsupport, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding sidethereof, said guiding portions being connected to the machine, one near the Wall or cutting end and the other relatively near the opposite end thereof, one

of said guiding portions extending to its fixed support and thence back to the machine, means for adjustably taking in or let ting out one of said guiding portions relatively .to the other to regulate the position of the machine, and means to control the other of said guiding portions.

- In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism of' flexible guiding mean having two guiding port-ions, each connected to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof, one of said guiding portions extending from the machine to the fixed support and thence back to the machine, and the other guiding portion being also connected to the machine, an adjustable take-up device on the machine to which said last-named guiding portion is connected, and means for operating said guiding means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBE rearm.

Witnessesi HARVEY C. BERKE'Z', Mourns P. HOLMES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flvecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

